Car-truck.



G. G. FLOYD.

GAR TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1914.

1 105 897, I I Patented Aug. 1, 1914.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FLOYD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGIVOR T AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

caaatnuox.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 4, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon G. FLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Car-Trucks, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention relates to car trucks and has particular reference to a novel cross tie adapted to inter-connectadjacent-side frames of a car truck.

In the manufacture and use of car trucks it has been found after extended experiments that many advantages accrue to the use of a flexible truck, that is, a truck having rigid side frames but which side frames shall be so connected to each other as to permit a limited flexibility with relation to each other and to the bolsters and car axles. This can be accomplished only by providing a flexible or universal connection between the frames at the point intermediate the car axles. It will be understood, ofcourse, that even though the bolster may be interlocked with the side frames by means of integral guides, the custom is to provide for considerable clearance between the bolster guide lips and the side frames. It. has been the custom, however, to rivet or otherwise rigidly interlock the spring plank with the side frame with the result that the frames are made rigid relative to each other or that the spring plank is distorted due to the relative movements of the side frames ultimately causing breakage of the spring plank at a point adjacent to the side frames.

An object of this invention is to provide a construction wherein the side frames shall be connected together in the required manner, the connection being such that. the side frames are permitted practically a universal movement with relation to each other. This is accomplished by employing a tie rod between adjacent side frames, this tie rod being provided with eyes in its ends. The ends of the tie rod enter recesses beneath the side frame spring seat and retained by a pin projected downwardly through the spring seat and held in place by the springs, the arrangement beingsuch that the tie rod has practically a universal movement with relation to the frame.

The invention will be more readily undcrstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a side frame having my improvements applied thereto; Fig.2 is a'fragmentary plan view of the same, and, Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that I prefer to provide a cast metal side frame 10, having a spring seat 11,-on which springs 15 are adapted to be seated, these springs being normally maintained in nested arrangement by means of upper and lower caps 13, 14-. respectively connected by a bolt 15. Studs 16, on the caps 13, 1- engage recesses in the side frame and bolster respectively in order to maintain the nest of spring in proper relation.

Beneath the spring seat and extending through the web of the side frame is a recess of through aperture 17, bisected by a vertical aperture 18, countersunk as at 1!). The recess 17, as shown, is flared on both sides and seated in the recess is a tie rod 20, having an eye 21, in each end thereof, the surface of the eye being rounded on all sides as shown in Figs. 1 and Projecting down-- \vardly through the aperture 18 is a 'pin 22, the head-of which is seated in the countersunk recess 19. It will be seen that the pin is securely held in place by the spring cap 14 and cannot be removed nor the tie rod disengaged until the springs 12 are removed.

Br the use of the constrlu-titm shown a perfectly flexible truck is provided. The connection.between adjacent side frames is rigid transversely but universal in all movements of the side frames with relation to each other. Therefore the tendency to breakage of the connection between the frames is eliminated. Furthermore, the weight of the connection is considerably lessened the tie rod giving sutlicicnt strength with a reduction of the weight of the usual spring plank.

It is obvious that the construction shown is typical only and the invention may be cmbodied in other forms without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. In a car truck, the combination of a pair of side frames, each thereof having a spring scat, each frame being provided with a transverse recess beneath said seat. and a tie rod extending between said side frames, said rod being provided with eyes at each end, and a pin connection between said I frames and said red the arrangement being 1 such as to permit a universal movement between the connected frames, substantially as described.

2. In a car truck, the combination of a pair of side frames, a tie rod, means connecting said tie rod to said side frames, said means including curved bearings whereby said side frames are permitted universal movement Withrelation to each other, substantially as described.

' 3. In acar truck, the combination of a pair of. side frames each thereof having a recess with curved Walls, a tie rod connecting said side frames, said tie rod having side frame engaging portions which are curved whereby universal movement between the two side frames is permitted, substantially as described.

4. In a car truck, the combination of a spring seat, a recess beneath said seat, a tie Y member extending between said frames, and provided with eyes 1n its ends, and 'pins cooperating. with said side, frames and tie pair of side frames each thereof having a spring seat, each frame being provided with a transverseand a vertical recess beneath the spring seat, a tie rod having eyes, and a pin in said vertical recess, said pin serving to connect said tie rod to said side frame, substantially as described.

r Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of March. 1914.

GEORGE e. rLeYD.

\Vitnesses J. F. LYNN, F. .B. Emss'r. 

